Bryce Hendrix wasn’t even in the final playing group on Wednesday, much less a thought to win the 28th annual Roy Jones/BB&T Junior Golf Classic.

But Hendrix thought otherwise.

The Greenville native went low on both sides of the course, and fought his way back after trailing the first-round leader by five strokes to capture the 16-18 age group and overall championship with a two-day 1-under 171 at the Kinston Country Club.

Hendrix, a rising junior at Greenville Conley, trailed Kinston’s Riley Davis after firing a 2-over 73 on Tuesday. But over the course of the final 18 holes on Wednesday the leaders fell behind while Hendrix took over.

“I’ve just been playing good the past couple of weeks and I thought I had a pretty good chance,” a speechless Hendrix said. “I knew (the leader) probably wouldn’t shot a 68 again.”

Davis, who’s first round 68 matched a tournament low with Hendrix’s Day 2 score, didn’t have as good a day as his first.

The Parrott Academy graduate stumbled to a 10-over 81 on Wednesday, was 7-over on the front nine to fall out of contention and finished the tournament eight shots back of Hendrix.

Fellow Parrott Academy standout Jack Sides was in contention until the 18th, when his tee shot sailed out of bounds.

Sides, who denied a request to be interviewed by The Free Press following the tournament, finished in third with a two-day 143.

But Wednesday was all about Hendrix, a first time winner who said he’s been playing well of late.

“Honestly, I don’t even know,” a speechless Hendrix said. “I’ve just been playing great the past couple of weeks. At my last tournament I shot a 68 … and came here and I just kind of did my own thing.”

Hendrix said his ball-striking was vastly improved from Tuesday’s round, which was evident on the par-4 16th.

Hendrix landed his 3-wood off the tee to about 150 yards of the cup. He then stuck a knock-down 9-iron to within 20 feet, then holed out from there.

Hendrix also played the front nine bogey free.

“Yesterday my swing was not in-sync at all. I just was not hitting it well but today it kind of clicked a little bit better,” he said.

“That kind of got me going a little bit.”

The win was retribution of sorts for Hendrix. He led the field last month after the first day of the NCHSAA state 3A championships with a 4-under 68, then returned the following day to go 2-over and finish third.

Patrick Stephenson of Four Oaks won the 14-15 age group with a two-day 142. Washington’s Matthew Chandler, who had the second-best day with a 69 on Tuesday, went 1-over on Wednesday but won the 12-13 age group with a 141.

Connor Dunn of Raleigh shot an 80 to win the 10-11 age group, which plays only nine holes each day.

Retired local businessman Roy Jones, along with his wife, Brenda, began this event 28 years ago.

While there’s no exact timetable for how long the Joneses will continue to be involved, he did hint at making it to year number 30.

With each passing tournament it keeps improving, he said.

“I’d have to say this year has been as good as any we’ve ever done,” Jones said. “It seems like it always gets better.

“It’s been a pleasure to do it for 28 years. Let’s say we’re going to look at 30 and then we’ll think about it.”

Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.